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London Travel Guide

London Travel Guide

The powerhouse that once drove the world's largest
empire, the ancient city of London is packed with history and
culture and is a perennial favourite with travellers of all
kinds:

England's historic capital was the centre of the British Empire
for generations, and is imbued with an incredible sense of history;
visitors to London often feel that the city is familiar because of
all the iconic landmarks and famous buildings! Modern London has
moved with the times and in addition to its proud ancient heritage
it is a truly cosmopolitan city which continues to host prestigious
world events. Anyone wishing to understand and explore the origins
of Western culture will revel in a holiday in London, where
traditional attractions still amaze and astound, but they will also
be entertained by all that is new and trendy in London, with the
option to visit the restaurants of famous
chefs, sample the fashionable and energetic nightlife, and enjoy
world-class shopping.

A holiday in London is enjoyable for anyone and everyone.
Families will find plenty to intrigue and delight children; couples
can wallow in romance and 'olde worlde' glamour; and culture
vultures will be in heaven.

Best time to visit London

London is notorious for its abundance of rain and fog, so an
umbrella is a necessity for a trip to London at any time of year.
The best time to holiday in London is during spring (April and May)
when the parks erupt in a profusion of flowering bulbs, early
autumn (September) when the trees turn into golden hues and skies
are often blue, or summer (July and August) when the long evenings
are a joy. Winters are gloomy, dark and cold but the cosy pubs and
brilliant museums still beckon. Read more on London's Climate and
Weather.

What to see in London

-Spend a few hours getting lost among the myriad treasures of
the British Museum.

Beyond London

England is a small country with a brilliant transport network
and good roads; most everything is easily accessible from London.
Glorious attractions within easy reach for excursions include
historic towns like Canterbury and
Windsor, and grand castles like
Hampton Court Palace and Leeds Castle.

Getting there

Heathrow Airport, situated 15 miles (24km) west of London, is
the busiest airport in the UK and one of the busiest in the world,
and many travellers begin their London experience in this famous
hub. International flights also commonly land at Gatwick Airport
and London Stansted Airport. Get more information on Airports in London.

Did you know?

-Once the largest and most influential city in the world, London
is still the biggest city in Western Europe and one of the largest
financial centres in the world.

-London is the only city that has hosted the modern Olympic
Games three times.

-Aldgate Tube Station is built on a massive plague pit
containing more than 1,000 buried bodies.

Whether you arrive in London via the underground or inside one
of the city's ubiquitous black taxicabs, you will immediately be
greeted by a deep sense of history and met with the unique vibrancy
of this incredible destination.

In its dark and troubled past, the city of London has survived
Roman occupancy, sackings from the Celts, Romans, Vikings and
Saxons, a Norman invasion, two great fires, the bubonic plague,
Nazi bombings, the Spice Girls and Damien Hirst.

This resilient and proud city promises something for everyone
and is one of the iconic tourist destinations. The London Eye lifts
visitors high above the river into vistas that stretch tight across
the fading skies. Further down on the South Bank, the Tate Modern
contains one of the world's most incredible collections of Modern
Art, while the city's 30,000 stores and boutiques will exhaust even
the most avid shopper, and its 6,000 restaurants are only too eager
to demonstrate why Britons revere their chefs as celebrities.

For those interested in exploring the country's heritage, the
Tower of London is an excellent starting-point. First constructed
in the 11th century, the Tower has been rebuilt several times as
later monarchs have left their mark. Still one of London's biggest
attractions, and a great celebration of pomp that is free to all
visitors, is the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, which
happens daily.

As the great dome of St Paul's reflects the colours of the
setting sun, London comes alive with an unrivalled nightlife. For
those up for something more energetic than dinner and the West End
musicals and theatre, London has a vast number of bars and
nightclubs catering to all tastes.

Following infrastructure upgrades for the 2012 Olympic Games,
there is simply no better time to visit England's capital city.
Cheap flights to London are available on a huge variety of airlines
- book now, and get the ball rolling on the holiday of a
lifetime.

Our Travel Expert

Tom has lived all over the world and has travelled extensively. He now lives in the Cotswolds, England.

We are looking for contributors for our London travel guide.
If you are a local, a regular traveller to London
or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.